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Tritium Night Sights Review and Our Tips

Perhaps hunting is a passion of yours or stopping by the shooting range is a favorite pastime. Maybe you simply want to own a firearm to prepare for a case where you would need to protect yourself and loved ones. Whatever your reason for owning a gun, you have probably run into an all-too-familiar conundrum: after dark, using your firearm safely can be a real challenge.

If you have ever had to pack in a hunting trip early because of skies getting dark earlier than expected—or feared for your ability to protect your family at night—you should consider Tritium Night Sights.

In this comprehensive review, we will explore this product, how it works, and what benefits and challenges it presents to gun owners.

What are Tritium Night Sights?

You might not be familiar with the brand, but you may have seen or noticed references to the product on television or in movies.

Tritium Night Sights are a special kind of sight designed specifically for nighttime and low visibility use. During the daytime, Tritium Night Sights will have standard white dots, but at night, they will have glowing green dots that maximize target visibility.

One of the easiest and most convenient aspects of this product is the fact that it is not electric, or battery operated. This means there are no charging periods, no costly battery replacements, and no failures when you need the night sights most.

How Tritium Night Sights Work

Given its fascinating glow-in-the-dark appearance, it can look like Tritium Night Sights are the result of magic—when really, it’s just a simple matter of science.

Tritium night sights are essentially glass tubes filled with phosphorescent materials and a very, very small amount of tritium, a radioactive hydrogen isotope. Tritium releases electrons as it decays, and this energy reacts with the tube’s casing, causing it to glow.

If you are worried about the safety of this product, know that it is perfectly safe in such small amounts. In fact, plenty of other nifty inventions have used tritium safely for years, including compasses, wristwatches, and even emergency exit signs.

Technically speaking, it is not tritium that glows green—the color is determined by the phosphorescent chemical also inside the tubing, which is why night sights are green, but most emergency exit signs are red.

The night sights are always glowing as well—although,in the direct light, the color will be a pale white, and it only becomes the bright neon in darkness.

Pros and Cons of Tritium Night Sights

After using this product as an alternative to traditional sights, it is clear that the product has distinct and undeniable benefits, as well as a few minor challenges that might make it not suitable for some gun owners.

One of the best and most convenient elements of night sights is the fact that they require no charging, battery replacements or even turning “on.” They are always activated, meaning when you need to use the night sights, they are already ready to be used. In high-stakes situations, waiting even a few seconds could have catastrophic consequences, so the fact that these sights are ready to go immediately is a major benefit.

Another pleasant surprise is that tritium night sights can be purchased for essentially any standard holster. Although prices and the ease of availability may differ depending on your firearm, in the age of the Internet, you will almost certainly be able to find a retailer that can cater to your needs.

Another benefit is the fact tritium night sights are very long-lasting. Although it might be easy to assume that night sights would work similarly to a glow stick and start fading soon after activation, this assumption could not be farther from the truth.

Tritium night sights have a half-life of 12 years—meaning you can expect them to dim after this time period. As they dim, their effectiveness will decrease significantly, and even if it is a slight difference, the adjustment could have a severe impact on your aim and accuracy. For this reason, the safest move is to replace the night sights after they reach their half-life– even if you do not notice the dimming now, does not mean you would not notice in an emergency.

Of course, the biggest benefit of tritium night sights is the fact that they work. They are ultimately a very durable and effective tool to increase visibility in low-light circumstances and ensure that nightfall does cost you your safety.

However, there are also challenges to consider. Even as a powerful tool to increase visibility, night sights are not an alternative to proper form, consistent focus,and skill. Human error will always be a possibility, especially at night. Night sights may also not be as effective for gun owners with sight issues or aging eyes.

Additionally, night sights are decidedly more expensive than many other sights. Although the price of sights will vary widely, night sights frequently sell for between $100 and $200, and this price can increase depending on your location and retailer.

It is also important to note that these sights will last a long time and solve a problem that conventional sights cannot, but it may not be enough to justify spending significantly more money on tritium sights.

If you have decided that tritium night sights are the right option for you, then Amazon is a wise place to start.

Amazon has a number of tritium brands available, including the popular and well-reviewed Trijicon brand, the affordable Meprolight line, and Tru Glo, which offers night sights that can fit with most firearms. These are just three top-rated brands out of many that are available to buy online, each with their own price range and compatibility.

Ultimately, tritium night sights are relatively affordable and are an incredibly convenient tool that can be used to increase personal safety, promote self-protection and offer gun owners an improved peace of mind.